Bouvardia plant named ‘Green Spring’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Bouvardia plant named ‘Green Spring’ characterized by having white flowers that are green at the apex, dark-green foliage, short internodes, which makes it suitable for growing as a potplant, and excellent keeping quality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Bouvardiaplant, botanically known as Bouvardia salisb, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Green Spring’. Bouvardia is native to Mexicoand other countries of Central America. The genus is named after theFrench medical doctor Charles Bouvard who lived from 1572 to 1657.

The genus Bouvardia is a member of the family Rubiaceae and mainlycontains small shrubs. Generally, the flowers of Bouvardia contain afour-lobed calyx and a long tubular, funnel-shaped, corolla with fourspreading lobes. There are two carpels and two stigmas and the fruit isa capsule.

Bouvardia plants are generally propagated by soft tip cuttings. Forexample, mother plants are pruned under temperature conditions whchprevent flower bud formation (20-22° C.). Young shoots with at least twowell-developed leaf pairs are rooted.

‘Green Spring’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new Bouvardia cultivars having improved qualityand flowers of various colors. ‘Green Spring’ originated from ahybridization made by the inventor in a controlled breeding program inRoelofarendsveen, the Netherlands, in 1996. The female parent was aproprietary Bouvardia selection designated 94.423.34. The male parentwas a proprietary Bouvardia selection designated 92.423. ‘Green Spring’was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross by the inventor, John M. F. de Jong, in a controlledenvironment in Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Green Spring’ was accomplishedwhen soft tip cuttings were taken from the originally discovered plantin 1997 in a controlled environment in Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlandsby John M. F. de Jong. Horticultural examination of these asexuallyreproduced plants has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Green Spring’ are firmly fixedand are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Green Spring’ which, in combination,distinguish this Bouvardia as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. White flowers that are green at the apex;

2. Dark-green foliage;

3. Short internodes, which makes it suitable for growing as a potplant;and

4. Excellent keeping quality.

The following chart illustrates a comparison between Bouvardia ‘GreenSpring’ and the parental cultivars.

‘Green Spring’ 94.423.34 92.423 Flower Petalage color: Base of The wholeUpper side of petals is Color tube is RHS 139D, flower is light pink,RHS 49D. suffusing into RHS 155D white, The lower side of toward thebase of RHS 155B petals is white, RHS petals (both outside and 155Ainside). Base of petals RHS 155D (both upper and lower side) suf- fusinginto RHS 139C towards the apex of the petals (both upper and lowerside). Leaf Color RHS 139A RHS RHS 147A (Top side) 137A

‘Green Spring’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, anddaylength without any change in genotype. The following observations,measurements, and values describe the pot plants at 12 weeks old, andthe plants for the production of cut flowers at 2-4 years old, as grownin Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands under conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice. Unless otherwise stated,the following observations, measurements, and values apply to both potplants and plants for the production of cut flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic illustrations show typical flowerand foliage characteristics of ‘Green Spring’, with colors being as trueas possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a side view of ‘Green Spring’.

Sheet 2 is a top view of the claimed cultivar in bloom showing theflower form.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.).

Origin: Seedling from breeding program.

Parentage:

Male parent.—Unnamed plant designated 92.423.

Female parent.—Unnamed plant designated 94.423.34.

Classification:

Botanical.—A species of the genus Bouvardia salisb.

Commercial.—Bouvardia cv. ‘Green Spring’.

Plant:

Form.—A vigorously growing small shrub with oppositely arranged leavesand flowers in terminal cymes.

Height.—Average height of pot plants from soil to the top of theinflorescence is 30 cm; the average height from the soil to the leafplane is 27 cm (depending on growth regulators). Average height ofplants for production of cut flowers from the soil to the top of theinflorescence is 140 cm; from the soil to the leaf plane is 134 cm.

Diameter.—Average diameter of pot plants is 18 cm; average diameter ofplants for the production of cut flowers is 20 cm.

Growth habit.—Vigorous: average time to produce a flowering pot plantstarted with cuttings is 12 weeks; average production cycle of plantsfor the production of cut flowers is 12 weeks.

Foliage.—Quantity: Numerous, 10-15 leaves per stem. Length: 7.5 cm (potplants); 10 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Width: 3.75cm (pot plants); 5 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Shapeof leaf: Lanceolate. Apex: Pointed. Base: Narrowed to the petiole.Margin: Smooth, entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: Upper side green RHS139A; under side green RHS 147B. Petiole Length: 0.3 cm (pot plants);0.4 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Petiole Diameter:0.15 cm (pot plants); 0.2 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers).Petiole Color: Green RHS 144A.

Bud:

Form.—Flask-shaped with flattened tops.

Color.—Green RHS 138B.

Size.—Small, approximately 1.0 cm in diameter and 2.5-3.0 cm in length.

Peduncle.—Length: 0.3 cm (pot plants); 0.4 cm (plants for the productionof cut flowers). Width: 0.1 cm. Color: Green RHS 144B. Texture: Smooth.Form: Erect.

Flower:

Flowering season.—Continuously year-round.

Size.—Diameter: 1.8-2.2 cm. Depth: 2.0-2.5 cm.

Inflorescence type.—Compound cymes.

Inflorescence number.—Average 2 (pot plants); average 6 (plants for theproduction of cut flowers).

Number of flowers per inflorescence.—Average 25 (pot plants); average 38(plants for the production of cut flowers).

Shape.—Lobed, tubular corolla.

Petalage.—Number of Petals: Four. Length: 0.9 cm (pot plants); 1.2 cm(plants for the production of cut flowers). Width: 0.8 cm (pot plants);1.1 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Arrangement:Concentric circle. Form: Elliptical, round. Apex: Pointed. Base: Growntogether to the tubular corolla. Margin: Smooth, entire. Texture:Smooth. Appearance: Satiny. Color: Base of both sides of the petals iswhite (RHS 155D) suffusing into green (RHS 139C) towards the petal apex(both sides); base of the tube is green (RHS 139D) suffusing into white(RHS 155D) towards the base of the petals.

Sepals.—Length: Average 0.6 cm (pot plants); average 0.8 cm (plants forproduction of cut flowers). Width: Average 0.25 cm (pot plants); average0.3 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Number per flower: 4.Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Pointed. Base: Fused. Margin: Smooth, entire.Color: Upper side green RHS 137A; under side green RHS 138B.

Persistence.—Flowers remain on plant eventually becoming dry.

Main stem or stalk.—Length: Up to 80.0 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm (pot plant);0.4 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Color: Green RHS146C. Aspect: Sturdy and erect. Internode Length: 6.5 cm (pot plants); 9cm (plants for the production of cut flowers).

Lasting quality of bloom.—14-20 days as a cut flower; 35 days as a potplant.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.—Number: Four. Arrangement: Alternate with petals.

Anthers.—Size: Approximately 0.2 cm in length, 0.1 cm in diameter.Color: RHS 1D.

Filaments.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Color: White RHS 155D. Pollen:RHS 200D; quantity of pollen grains per anther varies from 2000-5000.

Pistils.—Number: One.

Seeds.—Number per capsule: Average 18 (pot plants); 23 (plants for theproduction of cut flowers). Shape: Round. Length: Average 0.18 cm (potplants); 0.25 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Width:Average 0.19 cm (pot plants); 0.25 cm (plants for the production of cutflowers). Color: RHS 202A.

Fruit.—Type: Loculicidal capsule, seeds winged. Length: Average 0.5 cm(pot plant); 0.7 cm (plants for the production of cut flowers). Width:Average 0.5 cm (pot plant); 0.7 cm (plants for the production of cutflowers). Diameter: Average 0.5 cm (pot plant); 0.5 cm (plants for theproduction of cut flowers). Color: RHS 161A.

Other observations:

Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility.—Bouvardia ‘Green Spring’ issusceptible to aphids, white fly, Fusarium oxysporum, Botryotiniafuckeliana, Pythium, Myrothecium roridum.

Winter hardiness.—Bouvardia ‘Green Spring’ cannot survive temperaturesbelow 0° C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bouvardia plant named ‘GreenSpring’, as illustrated and described herein.